Jose Mourinho reveals what he really thinks about Arsene Wenger

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is planning to seek a friendship with Arsene Wenger after the Gunners boss leaves Arsenal at the end of the season.

Wenger announced on Friday that he will call time on his 22-year stint with the Gunners at the end of the season.

Mourinho and Wenger have endured an acrimonious feud over the years. Incidents include the Arsenal boss shoving Mourinho on the touchline, while the ‘Special One’ also branded Wenger a ‘specialist in failure’.

However, it appears the former Chelsea boss is looking to make peace on his volatile relationship with Wenger.

Speaking ahead of their Super Sunday clash this week, Mourinho revealed his admiration for his long-time rival.

“If he respects me even 50 per cent of what I respect him we can even be friends in the future,” Mourinho told Sky Sports News. “I have lots of respect for him.

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho go toe-to-toe in 2014.

“But the reality is that he was at Arsenal, he was the champion and I came to the country in 2004 and wanted to steal his title. That’s football.

“But in the end I respect him a lot, I tried to show that in the past couple of years there were no more problems at a different stage of my career with a different profile.

“I feel sorry that after Sir Alex Ferguson – but it was obviously Sir Alex’s decision [to leave] – the next big one, the next iconic one is leaving the Premier League.”

Wenger may choose to rest a number of first-team players with next week’s trip to Atletico Madrid in mind.